Coronavirus: Army Deployed as Pakistani Cities Go Into Lockdown

Army has been deployed across Pakistan to help civil admin fight COVID-19

Cities are under complete lockdowns save essential services and movement

Sindh politician Saeed Ghani also tested positive and is under self-quarantine

So far, the virus has affected 959 and killed 7 in Pakistan

Public is advised to remain indoors and show responsibility in this time of crisis

The armed forces were called in by the government on Monday to help curb the spread of coronavirus that has infected over 870 people and claimed 6 lives in Pakistan so far. Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar in his press briefing on Monday reiterated the army’s commitment to helping the nation fight the pandemic.

“It’s time to make tough decisions on individual, family, community, and society levels,” he said. Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar also highlighted the importance of social distancing saying, “All borders have already been closed as a precautionary measure, but the real border is between man and coronavirus that we need to control.”

Hours after PM Imran Khan ruled out a national lockdown in his speech on Sunday, Sindh announced a complete 15-day lockdown across the province limiting movement to need-basis only. Following Sindh, Punjab also announced a two-week lockdown calling it ‘partial shutdown’ despite the restrictions being similar to those imposed in Sindh. Azad Jammu & Kashmir also followed suit announcing a three-week lockdown. KP had announced a 3-day partial shutdown days earlier.

On Monday, Sindh Minister for Education, Labour and Human Resources Saeed Ghani announced in a video message that he had tested positive for coronavirus and was under self-isolation in spite of being completely asymptomatic. He requested citizens to stay at home and practice social distancing, and said that the purpose of the video was to alert those who may have come into contact with him over the past weeks.

In another development, Islamabad’s union council of Kot Hathial was quarantined by the capital administration after six members of the Tableeghi Jamaat residing in the area tested positive for COVID-19. On Sunday, two mosques in the area where ijtemas had taken place were also closed and disinfected after a member of the Jamaat, a Kyrgyz, tested positive for the virus.

Here are the latest updates.

11.20 pm

Partial Lockdown Announced in Islamabad

The capital administration has announced a partial lockdown in Islamabad.

During the lockdown:

All shopping malls, restaurants, and markets will remain closed

All public transport will be suspended

All gatherings will be suspended

Private offices will also remain shut

Public offices will operate between 10am to 4pm

OPDs in all hospitals will be suspended

Metro bus will operate between 8:30am to 10.00am and 3:00pm to 5:30pm

11.10 pm

3 More COVID-19 Cases Emerge in Sindh

With three new COVID-19 positives, Sindh’s coronavirus tally has reached 410.

It takes the national tally to 959.

11.00 pm

Sindh Reports 10 More Recoveries

Sindh govt. spokesperson Murtaza Wahab has informed that another 10 coronavirus patients have recovered in the province.

The total number of people recovered from the disease in Pakistan now stands at 14.

Another 10 patients of #COVIDー19 in #Sindh have recovered and their tests have come negative. Total number of patients who have recovered in Sindh are now 14. Alhamdolillah

Govt. Announces Rs. 1.2 Trillion Covid-19 Package

The government of Pakistan has announced Rs. 1,200 billion Economic Relief and Stimulus Package which seeks to provide relief to vulnerable people, SMEs and industry and supports the poor.

Addressing a press conference, Prime Minister Imran Khan alongside his senior ministers and advisors said that the coronavirus pandemic is not the real danger, rather the decisions that people took fearing the COVID-19 threat.

640 Pilgrims to be Sent Home from Sukkur

After testing negative for coronavirus, 640 pilgrims who were being quarantined in Sukkur will be sent to their homes.

Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah announced the decision saying the returning people have been directed to stay inside their homes for a few days.

8.00 pm

Coronavirus Cases More Than Double in KP with 40 New Positives

KP has reported 40 new coronavirus cases which takes the provincial tally to 78.

As many as 37 of the new cases were reported in zaireen.

40 new cases have been confirmed in KP, more than doubling our tally to 78. Please note that 37 of these cases came from Zaireen who were recently received. 3 new cases emerged from the province keeping in line with the general trend of the province. #KPFightsCoronapic.twitter.com/lRs0nyDV99

CM Shah Urges People to Contact Helpline if Symptoms Appear

CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah has urged people to contact designated COVID-19 helpline numbers if they experience any of the virus’s typical symptoms.

These numbers include:

021-99206565

021-99204452

0316-0111712 (for WhatsApp messages)

5.15 pm

PM Imran Khan Briefs Media, Announces Relief Package

PM Imran Khan, in a media briefing, announced a comprehensive economic package to protect the people, industry and the country’s economy from the negative impact of coronavirus. Below are some of the announcements:

Prices of all POL products have been cut by Rs15

Rs100 billion package announced for SMEs and agri sector

Rs200 billion relief package announced for poor

Additional Rs50 billion earmarked for Utility Stores

Rs25 billion earmarked for NDMA

Concessions and tax refunds for exporters and businessmen

Special package to be announced for construction industry in a few days

GB Reports 2 Coronavirus Recoveries

Both patients were under treatment at an Islamabad hospital where they were kept in isolation.

12.30 pm

Pakistani Pilots Donate 3-Day Salary to Coronavirus Fund

Pakistan Airline Pilots’ Association (Palpa) has announced that each pilot will donate three days’ salary to the COVID-19 fund created by the government.

11.45 pm

9 New Cases Reported in GB

GB’s tally has climbed to 80 after 9 new coronavirus cases emerge in the region.

This takes Pakistan’s national tally to 887.

11.00 am

The COVID-19 Pandemic Is Accelerating: WHO

The World Health Organization has warned that the COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating and the world needs a ‘football game strategy to attack the virus’.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a virtual news briefing to journalists said, “It took 67 days from the beginning of the outbreak in China in late December for the virus to infect the first 100,000 people worldwide. In comparison, it took 11 days for the second 100,000 cases and just four days for the third 100,000 cases.”

To win, he said, we need to attack the virus with aggressive and targeted tactics.

The #COVID19 pandemic is accelerating. It took 67 days from the 1st reported case to reach the first 100K cases, 11 days for the second 100K cases & just 4 days for the third 100K cases.These numbers matter, these are people, whose lives & families have been turned upside down. https://t.co/VydhLBNq36

China Reports 78 New Imported Cases as Fears Grow of Second Wave

China reported 78 new cases of the deadly coronavirus on Tuesday, with the vast majority brought in from overseas as fears rise of a second wave of infections.

The first new case in nearly a week was also reported in Wuhan – the epicentre where the virus emerged last year – along with three other local infections elsewhere in the country.

At 74, the imported cases confirmed Tuesday were the highest since officials started reporting the data at the beginning of March, and nearly double those reported Monday.

Source: AFP

9.00 am

Man Dies After Ingesting Chloroquine in an Attempt to Prevent Coronavirus

An Arizona man has died after ingesting chloroquine phosphate — believing it would protect him from becoming infected with the coronavirus. The man’s wife also ingested the substance and is under critical care.

The toxic ingredient they consumed was not the medication form of chloroquine, used to treat malaria in humans. Instead, it was an ingredient listed on a parasite treatment for fish.

Special Flights to Bring Back Stranded Pakistanis

The govt. has granted special permission to Fly Dubai and Qatar Airways to bring back Pakistanis stranded at Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Doha airports.

Fly Dubai’s flight carrying about 150 passengers landed in Islamabad at 2.10am. These passengers were in transit at Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports.

Qatar Airways will operate a flight for Islamabad to bring back stranded passengers at Doha Airport.

It’s pertinent to note that all Pakistani airports are closed for international flights till April 4.

Source: Dawn

3.00 am

3 More Cases Emerge in Punjab

Punjab has reported three new COVID-19 cases with the province’s tally reaching 249.

2.00 am

SBP to Provide Disinfected Banknotes

Pakistan’s central bank has announced that it will provide ‘fit, authenticated, and disinfected cash’.

This will help resolve the public concerns surrounding currency notes being potent carriers of COVID-19.

Banks will provide fit, authenticated and disinfected cash. SBP will ensure to clean, disinfect, seal and quarantine all cash being collected from hospitals and clinics and to block circulation of such cash in the market.

Govt. To Announce Economic Relief and Stimulus Package: Hammad Azhar

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar has said that the govt. is working on an economic relief and stimulus package that is expected to be announced today.

The economic team is finalising an economic relief and stimulus package that shall be announced tomorrow InshAllah. PM office, members of cabinet and government officers in multiple divisions have worked tirelessly over the past days to work out proposals and take decisions.